Chapter 103: The Abandoned Little Emperor (7)
As the new year approached, it was a time for celebration among the common people. With the distribution of disaster relief supplies and the army officers assigned to help rebuild homes, even the little emperor’s birthday took on a festive atmosphere.
Xiao Miyun, having grown up in the palace, had never seen so many novelties before. Even though the snacks sold on the street stalls weren’t as refined as the imperial kitchen’s, she found them uniquely appealing.
She wasn’t foolish. Knowing that things could get chaotic outside the palace during this time, she had wanted to bring some of her own people with her before leaving. But after counting them, the only person truly loyal to her was Ayue, who had accompanied her out of the palace.
“Miss, there will be a shadow puppet show by the city gates later, it’s said to be very beautiful. Since we’re already out, why don’t we go and see it?”
Seeing that Xiao Miyun was only interested in the bustling Zhuque Street near the palace, Ayue leaned closer and whispered her suggestion.
Xiao Miyun was flipping through a folk storybook. The book had no title, and the handwriting was blurry and messy. She had initially wondered how such a poorly made book could be sold, but as she read on, she realized that the author had boldly written about the Xiao Zhou dynasty.
From the tyrannical former emperor to her, the current emperor—
“It is said that the current emperor is a spirit stone from the heavens, born by the Queen Mother of the West’s pond, facing the immortal herbs day and night. Over time, she gained sentience. When the immortal herb descended to the mortal realm for its tribulation, a sliver of her soul followed, hoping to accompany it. Unfortunately, time flows differently in the heavens and on earth. When she arrived, she couldn’t find the herb’s scent and happened to inhabit the body of a frail boy in the secluded corner of the imperial harem.”
“And the immortal herb, it was originally a broken-hearted grass, poisonous by nature. Even after being reborn as a human, its fate was intertwined with bloodshed. First, it poisoned its family, then it was nourished by the bloodshed on the battlefield, becoming an invincible warrior, the renowned Prince of Zhenbei.”
“It is said that after entering the palace, the broken-hearted grass recognized the spirit stone’s familiar aura. Among the enemy clan, it spared only the boy’s life, then helped him ascend to the throne…”
Xiao Miyun: “?”
Reading about herself?
What kind of nonsensical story was this? First of all, why would there be a broken-hearted grass growing by the Queen Mother of the West’s pond? Secondly, they even got her gender wrong… Although the truth wasn’t known to the public, how could these writers lack such basic imagination?
“Boring.”
She closed the book and saw the words “Six Lifetimes of Love” scribbled on the side. Turning to Ayue’s questioning gaze, she realized she had been distracted. “What did you just say?”
After Ayue repeated her suggestion, Xiao Miyun shook her head. “That’s almost outside the city, too far and too crowded. Not going. Zhen… thinks this place is fine, let’s walk around here some more.”
The smile on Ayue’s face faltered.
Then, she suddenly pointed in a certain direction with a surprised expression. “I think I just saw General Sun.”
Xiao Miyun immediately looked over cautiously but didn’t see Sun Feiyan. Just then, Ayue said with a worried tone: “Since General Sun is here, the Prince of Zhenbei must have learned about Your Majesty leaving the palace. If they catch you, you won’t be able to come out again for a long time. I think, Miss, you should take this opportunity to have some fun.”
Hearing her words, Xiao Miyun’s expression turned strange. “I remember your hometown isn’t in the capital, and you haven’t left the palace since entering. How do you know so much about the city?”
Moreover…
Ayue had been talking too much since they left the palace.
Was it because she had been cooped up in the palace for too long?
“This servant… I don’t go out, but other palace maids do, and they like to share these interesting things. Over time, I’ve memorized them.”
She explained patiently. Xiao Miyun nodded understandingly, not asking further. As they were talking, she unconsciously crumpled the book and put it in her sleeve. Ayue, following her, didn’t seem curious and simply paid for the book with a few copper coins.
Heeding Ayue’s warning, Xiao Miyun paid close attention to her surroundings as they continued walking. Despite this, she still didn’t see Sun Feiyan. But although she appeared unconcerned, she was still worried about Ayue’s warning.
What if she attracted the Prince of Zhenbei?
Should she take this opportunity to experience everything outside the palace?
“The place you mentioned, with the shadow puppet show, are there many guards there? Is it safe?”
Ayue naturally assured her, mentioning that the city’s security had been tightened recently, with more frequent patrols and guard changes. Moreover, with so many people gathering there, it was clearly a rare and lively event.
Xiao Miyun hesitantly agreed to go.
But because it wasn’t evening yet, the shadow puppet show hadn’t started. They had to sit down at a nearby stall selling tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Ayue went to get them some.
The little emperor, wrapped in her luxurious fox fur cloak, sat alone at the stall, rubbing her cold, red hands, looking at the darkening sky, feeling that the wait would be long.
So when Ayue returned with the bowls of tangyuan, she said: “This place is boring, let’s go back. I want to visit those cosmetic shops.”
“You don’t want to wait anymore?”
“No.”
“Then have these warm tangyuan first, then we can go back.”
Hearing Ayue’s suggestion, Xiao Miyun looked at the bowl of fermented rice tangyuan, the pungent smell of alcohol filling her nose. She stirred it with a spoon and saw small, uncooked lumps floating in the broth.
Having eaten many snacks earlier, she already had no appetite. Seeing such poorly made food, she lost interest completely, put down the spoon, and said, “Don’t want to eat it, let’s go.”
But the person sitting across from her didn’t move.
Xiao Miyun frowned. “What?”
“Miss, I don’t know if I’ve told you this before…” Ayue’s lips curved into a strange smile, very different from her usual expression. “You’re really hard to please.”
“How dare you!” Xiao Miyun blurted out instinctively, but she was already filled with suspicion. She instinctively stood up and tried to back away, but she was no match for the person beside her.
At the same time…
Sun Feiyan, who had been watching from afar, sensed something amiss and ordered the nearby guards to converge on their location.
But they were too slow. Almost as soon as the little emperor stepped back, fireworks suddenly erupted from the city walls, their bright light illuminating the area.
The surrounding crowd panicked.
Xiao Miyun’s throat was grabbed. She was taken hostage, and, taking advantage of the chaos, quickly disappeared from Sun Feiyan’s sight.
“Damn it!”
The guards at the city gates were busy maintaining order. The now empty gate was easily breached—
Outside the capital…
Xiao Miyun, a knife held to her neck, looked at the familiar face of the palace maid before her. She had calmed down from the initial panic. After all, panicking wouldn’t help, she might as well die knowing the truth.
She hadn’t expected to die before even reaching her coming-of-age ceremony. How ironic.
“Your Majesty just said you wanted to fight us in the Qinzheng Palace a few days ago, have you forgotten already?” Ayue’s eyes, no longer dull and lifeless, held a hint of amusement as she looked at Xiao Miyun like prey waiting to be slaughtered.
Xiao Miyun’s expression changed. “You’re… Turkic?”
As the other party removed her disguise, revealing her sharp features, high nose bridge, and thin lips, then taking off the wig, her long, wavy brown hair cascading down, the truth was more convincing than any further questions.
Remembering Su Mingxiu’s proposal in the Qinzheng Palace a few days ago, she quickly said: “It’s useless even if you kidnap me. Don’t you know? In this country, I, the puppet emperor, have no real power.”
Ayue smiled and helped her onto a horse. After settling her, she sat behind her. “Whether you have power or not, we can test it.”
Several groups split up and headed in different directions, creating a diversion for the imperial guards chasing them from the city.
Xiao Miyun, not accustomed to riding, was bounced around on the horse’s back, her grip on the reins tight, the wind whipping past her ears, making her speechless. The person behind her, however, was relaxed, even gently fixing her hair.
“In our tribe, there are no girls with skin as delicate as yours. Those men, seeing you, will be captivated.”
Sensing Xiao Miyun’s stiffness, she chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t give you to them. After I become the Khan, I’ll take you into my harem as my consort. A Khan marrying an emperor, wouldn’t that be a beautiful story in your Han history?”
Bullshit.
Xiao Miyun, her face numb from the wind, thought, Keep dreaming.
The cavalry carried her towards a remote path outside the city. Away from the main road, the dense forest and bare, thorny branches, like black iron blades, made the journey difficult, especially in the depths of winter.
Ayue finally stopped by a frozen river.
Xiao Miyun looked at the distance from the horse’s back, wondering if she could survive jumping from this height. Just as she had this thought, she heard Ayue, who had dismounted, say slowly: “In our land, many inexperienced people fall from their horses every year. Even if they survive, they’re often crippled for life. Your Majesty is a smart person, you wouldn’t take such a risk, would you?”
She still spoke fluent Mandarin.
But to Xiao Miyun’s ears, it sounded incredibly jarring. She wondered how she had ever found it pleasant.
She sat on the horse’s back with her head lowered, the sound of the cold northern wind echoing in her ears. She could already imagine herself freezing into an ice sculpture in the foreign lands. After all, she knew that no one would come to rescue her.
The wind howled.
Ayue, having tested the thickness of the ice and confirming that it was too thin to cross, was returning to her horse when she suddenly saw torches lighting up the surrounding forest, on both sides of the river, like a spreading wildfire.
Xiao Miyun also saw the torches. Her heart tightened, thinking that it was the Turkic army coming to meet Ayue. But seeing the tension on Ayue’s face, her heart leaped.
Could it be…?
“Hiya!”
Ayue quickly mounted her horse, pulling on the reins, wanting to turn around and escape. But the torches behind them were closing in, revealing countless soldiers in armor.
And from the path they had just taken came the sound of carriage wheels rolling over the uneven ground. Seeing the banner of the Zhenbei Manor, Xiao Miyun breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn’t even realize the relief on her face.
The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the woman inside, dressed in a dark purple robe, her complexion still slightly pale. But this didn’t diminish her imposing aura. Clutching a gilded hand warmer, she said in her slow, gentle voice: “This minister is late in rescuing Your Majesty, please forgive me.”
Xiao Miyun, her nose running from the cold, vaguely felt the warmth emanating from the carriage. Her numb limbs finally regained some feeling, and a warmth spread through her nose. Her voice hoarse, she said: “My dear minister has rendered meritorious service in protecting Zhen, how could there be any fault?”
Hearing that overly affectionate address, Su Mingxiu realized that the little emperor was truly frozen stiff.
Ayue, however, who had placed the knife against Xiao Miyun’s neck again, wasn’t interested in their exchange. She said to Su Mingxiu with a strained smile: “How did you know I would take this route? You’ve been lying in ambush for so long, instead of capturing us in the city. What, has the mad king finally developed some compassion for the common people?”
Xiao Miyun, who had been freezing all this time, a stark contrast to Su Mingxiu’s warmth inside the carriage, stiffened upon hearing these words.
Su Mingxiu, ignoring the little emperor’s expression, replied unhurriedly: “Of course it’s to ensure success. After all, the guest I want to keep is… Jisi Le Aiyi—”
“Red Moon, is that an auspicious name on the grasslands? Do you really think that by bringing back the emperor of the Xiao Zhou dynasty, you can become the Khan?”
Ayue’s gaze was chilling as she stared at Su Mingxiu. She let out a short laugh and pressed the knife closer to Xiao Miyun’s neck, the cold steel making the little emperor shiver.
“Whether it works or not, we’ll have to try. If you don’t want the last of the Xiao Zhou bloodline to die here, I advise you to withdraw your troops. Otherwise, this infamous act will be another stain on your record.”
A faint smile appeared on Su Mingxiu’s lips. She slowly put down the hand warmer, her pale fingers moving as she lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage, standing by the wheels. She took the black bow offered by a soldier.
Even before an arrow was nocked, both Xiao Miyun and Ayue, who was holding her hostage, trembled at the sight of the bow.
This bow, named “Setting Sun,” inspired by the legend of Houyi shooting down the suns, was a famous bow from the previous dynasty. Countless renowned generals had died under Su Mingxiu’s Setting Sun bow.
“It doesn’t matter.”
As she slowly pulled the bowstring, testing its tension, she narrowed her eyes, looking in their direction, her smile still calm and casual, her voice leisurely as if chatting with friends: “I’ve killed enough of the Xiao Zhou bloodline, one more won’t make a difference.”
Hearing this, Xiao Miyun’s heart froze like an ice sculpture. Although she hadn’t been injured yet, her soul felt like it had already descended into the underworld.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will remember your heroic sacrifice for the country and the people, your refusal to surrender to the Turkic forces. I will build you a magnificent mausoleum and ensure your name is enshrined in the ancestral temple, remembered by future generations for centuries.”
“I will lead the Xiao Zhou army and crush the Turkic forces to avenge you.”
As she spoke, Su Mingxiu had already adjusted the bowstring. She extended her hand, and a soldier placed an arrow on it. She slowly drew the bow, aiming at them.
The creaking sound of the bowstring being pulled taut, inch by inch, tormented Xiao Miyun and Ayue.
Like the grim reaper slowly swinging his scythe towards them.
Xiao Miyun’s body went limp, she could only stand with Ayue’s support. Facing Su Mingxiu’s arrow directly, Ayue finally understood why those regional lords had fled in terror at the mere sight of the Prince of Zhenbei’s banner.
She had never felt death so close. Even when Sun Feiyan had held a sword to her throat, her mind had been blank. But now, it was like slow torture, her impending death prolonged under the constant threat.
She wanted to beg for mercy.
She also wanted to plead with Su Mingxiu to save her.
But when she opened her mouth, no words came out, as if she had been silenced, her throat constricted, her lips only moving soundlessly.
“Are you crazy? She’s of the Xiao Zhou bloodline! Even though she’s a woman, she’s the rightful heir to the throne! If you kill her, you won’t have a puppet anymore!”
Ayue, also sensing the tangible killing intent, seeing that Su Mingxiu had already drawn the bow halfway, her expression changing drastically, shouted.
“Puppets are disobedient, and stupid, and difficult to teach,” Su Mingxiu said, her voice strengthened by her internal energy. “It’s better for me to sit on that throne myself.”
“Wangye!”
Sun Feiyan, who had just arrived, suddenly knelt and shouted.
As if pleading with Su Mingxiu to reconsider.
But Su Mingxiu didn’t speak. The bowstring was drawn further and further back, about to reach its limit, ready to pierce both Xiao Miyun and Ayue.
At that very moment, Ayue made up her mind. There was no turning back once the arrow was released. If she didn’t run now, she would die with this little emperor!
So she struck Xiao Miyun from behind without hesitation, using the momentum to push the little emperor forward as she leaped back, falling towards the frozen river.
“Feiyan!”
Su Mingxiu snapped the bowstring, the broken string snapping against her arm, leaving a long cut. Unfazed, she called out to the general.
Sun Feiyan, who had been watching, immediately leaped forward, catching the little emperor and rolling on the ground with her.
Ayue, in mid-air, seeing Su Mingxiu snap the Setting Sun bow, threw the knife in her hand towards Xiao Miyun’s back with her remaining strength.
Sun Feiyan, still rolling on the ground with the little emperor in her arms, used her own back to block the knife.
Xiao Miyun’s eyes widened as she saw the silver blade protruding from Sun Feiyan’s shoulder.
She was stunned. “General… Sun…”
“Loose!”
Su Mingxiu, standing on the carriage, confirming that they were both safe, gave the order. Instantly, arrows rained down on the frozen river from both sides.
A large hole appeared in the ice. Some arrows landed on the surface, others pierced through the ice, disappearing into the depths.
“Seal off the river upstream and downstream, search for Jisi Le Aiyi. Apprehend any suspicious Turkic individuals.”
“I want her alive, or her body.”
As she spoke, Su Mingxiu got off the carriage and walked over to Sun Feiyan. She pressed on the pressure points around Sun Feiyan’s wound to stop the bleeding, then had her carried onto the carriage and taken to the nearest residence as quickly as possible, instructing someone to fetch the army’s best doctor.
Only the little emperor, who had been helped up, remained, her face still stained with blood, a stark contrast against her pale skin.
Su Mingxiu walked up to her, her right hand, now stained red, hidden behind her back. She extended her left hand and asked with a faint smile: “Are you satisfied with the results of your little excursion, Your Majesty?”
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